Paraguay is one of the two buffer states between Brazil and
Argentina, the local major powers. The outside observer may think
that the country has had no luck, having passed through terrible
wars and revolutions and being ruled for the most part by psychopaths
and crooks.

When the Europeans arrived the area (including the lower parts
of Bolivia and parts of north eastern Argentina and western Brazil)
had a population of tens of millions organized in several large
nations. The results of colonization
has been to reduce this population to a remnant.

It was the site of a remarkable Jesuit colony during the 17th
century. The Jesuit missionaries organized the native Guarani
people into what they termed "Reducciones" - kibbutz-like
communities in which they lived on terms of equality. At the
coast the Spanish and Portuguese colonial rulers had organized
the usual pattern of slave estates governed by aristocratic landowners.
These resented the existence of unexploited Indians
in the interior and no doubt feared the example if their own
slaves came to know that life without slavery was possible. They
persuaded the government to expel the Jesuits and brought the
experiment to an end in 1767. (This has parallels with 20th century
attempts by people in Central America to change the habitual
pattern of life and land ownership - they are usually labeled
Communists and overthrown by the power of the United States.)

The resulting state became independent from Spain but came
into conflict with the successors in Brazil and Argentina. There
were wars with Brazil from 1864 to 1870. Half the population
died. From 1932 to 1935 there was another damaging war with Bolivia
over an area known as the Chaco (believed wrongly to have oil).
Land was lost to Bolivia and Brazil.

From 1954 until 1989 it was ruled by a dictator of German
origin, Alfredo Stroessner, who gave asylum to former Nazis
(including Josef Mengele and Martin Bormann) and operated a ruthless
regime. He was overthrown but by people of a similar type. It
was one of the last military dictatorships remaining in Latin
America. He was replaced by one of his associates and went into
exile.

During the 1970s and 1980s there was an agreement with the
military governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay
to capture and return dissidents from the other countries.

It is the only American country where an Amerindian language,
Guarani, is spoken by most of the people, including the people
of mixed descent, and used officially. Will this influence its
future?

It can be argued that the fall of the dictatorship, which
was as bad as any of the classic 20th century type - torture,
imprisonment without trial, censorship, deathsquads - was due to the
end of the Cold War. Documents revealed since the fall have shown
that Paraguay was an important link when western governments
wished to do things in secret which they had declared illegal.
These included the supply of arms to Iran, Iraq and South Africa.
The Cold War allowed this nasty regime to be labeled part of
the "Free World" . Now that there is no Communist enemy
the right wing dictatorships are no longer supported.

There was a one party state. Although there was a structure
of Assembly and President these were veils for the real power
which was the personal power of the president exercised through
non- constitutional force.

Following the overthrow of Stroessner, by one of his associates
in 1989, there are some signs that the elected element may be
becoming stronger.

Elections were held in May 1993. The opposition won seats
in the assembly but not a majority. The former ruling party retained
power. Is the dictatorship now ended? Perhaps only on the surface.
Only after some time will it be possible to say whether the dictatorship
is at an end. People are still powerless in face of economic
"development" .

The 1998 elections saw the handover of one elected president
to another for the first time in Paraguay's history.

The 2008 elections saw the opposition candidate - Fernando
Lugo, a former Catholic Bishop - win for the first time for 60
years, ending the monopoly power of the Colorado Party.

In June 2012 he was "impeached" by the opposition party-controlled Senate and made to resign.

A center for smuggling between Brazil and Argentina. A big
supplier of electricity to Brazil. Does the whole country benefit?
It is said that Paraguay gets a poor price and very little of
the electricity itself.

Like other dictatorships there was no concern for the environment.
A huge dam at Itaipu is criticized for its environmental effects.
Since the revolution rapid forest cutting (to prevent confiscation);
river development without consultation affects ordinary people.

There are believed to be political prisoners and little respect
for the freedom of the courts or the rule of law.

During the Stroessner period there were disappearances (police
executions in secret), torture and other abuses. Hundreds of
secret graves have been found. There are signs of a revival of
the rule of law as independent prosecutors (Juges d'instruction)
search the records of the former secret police.

Have accepted western standards been achieved yet? Probably
not, as many of the people who served under the dictatorship
are still in place.